State fishing tournament to award thousands for netting nuisance Asian Carp

State fishing tournament to award thousands for netting nuisance Asian Carp

Published: February 19, 2013 Updated 4 hours ago
2013-02-19T14:27:06ZThe_Associated_Press


http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/201...b.AuSt.79.jpegTwo types of Asian carp have invaded Kentucky waters. Above, commercial fisherman Ronnie Hopkins held a silver carp. Below, Jesus Armando Barrera held a bighead carp. Both were caught on Lake Barkley in November.

The Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky is inviting fishermen to put their angling skills to the test at a carp tournament next month.
The Carp Madness Tournament will have teams of commercial anglers compete to catch the growing population of Asian carp in two of Kentucky's largest and most popular fishing lakes.
Five teams that bring back the highest poundage of fish will split $20,000, with a top prize of $10,000.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is putting together the event for March 12-13 at Kentucky and Barkley lakes in western Kentucky.

Ron Brooks, fisheries director for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, says Asian carp are a threat to native species and habitats. He says the carp compete with other fish for the plankton, a key food source.

Read more here: FRANKFORT, Ky.: State fishing tournament to award thousands for netting nuisance Asian Carp | State | Kentucky.com

I will be monitoring the event to watch for crappie disturbance and incidental by-catch. A lot of these net fisherman put their nets out in back of the bays and run their boats in front of the nets trying to herd the fish. I understand this is illegal and will be watching closely. I got knocked down in my boat a few years back with a commercial fisherman making very large waves in the back of the bay herding the fish into the nets. I am concerned about asian carp populations exploding but I am not willing to accept other bad decisions involved with some of the control measures being looked at. Hope this turns out OK! $20,000 will make some people crazy!!!!